Lymphangiogenesis: A new strategy for heart disease treatment (Review)

Int J Mol Med. 2024 Apr;53(4):35. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2024.5359. Epub 2024 Feb 23.

Abstract

Heart disease remains a global health challenge, contributing notably to morbidity and mortality. The lymphatic vasculature, an integral component of the cardiovascular system, plays a crucial role in regulating essential physiological processes, including fluid balance, transportation of extravasated proteins and immune cell trafficking, all of which are important for heart function. Through thorough scientometric analysis and extensive research, the present review identified lymphangiogenesis as a hotspot in cardiovascular disease research, and the mechanisms underlying impaired cardiac lymphangiogenesis and inadequate lymph drainage in various cardiovascular diseases are discussed. Furthermore, the way used to improve lymphangiogenesis to effectively regulate a variety of heart diseases and associated signaling pathways was investigated. Notably, the current review also highlights the impact of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on lymphangiogenesis, aiming to establish a clinical basis for the potential of TCM to improve cardiovascular diseases by promoting lymphangiogenesis.

Keywords: Traditional Chinese medicine; cardiovascular; lymphangiogenesis; scientometric; signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / metabolism
  • Heart
  • Heart Diseases* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lymphangiogenesis / physiology
  • Lymphatic Vessels* / metabolism

Grants and funding

The present study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 82204867 and 82174205) and Tianjin Municipal Health Commission (grant no. 2023145).